by JoAnn Durgin
“Don’t move.” A warning glance surfaced in her expression.
“Wouldn’t think of it. Just don’t forget and leave my finger imprisoned.”
“That’s an interesting idea.”
“So,” Alex said after a minute of shared silence, “are you going to tell me about these gifts?”
“You can remove your finger now.” After he did so, Nicole artfully arranged the loops on the bow. “Just a few things I picked up for different people.”
Alex glanced around the room, aware she’d been wrapping the better part of the last couple of hours. He nodded to a stack of gifts in the corner. “I’m guessing one of those packages has something for the teenage boy from the mission.”
Nicole’s startled glance told him all he needed to know. “Your powers of observation are apparently alive and well. Terrence has outgrown most of his clothes. He’s a good kid, but his mother can’t afford to give him much. He needs some new things.”
“I’ve never seen anyone put such effort into wrapping a gift.” He nodded toward a blue and white package sitting in one corner with a huge silvery bow with ornaments dangling from it. “They’re almost like works of art.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Shaking her head, Nicole blew a loose strand of dark hair away from her face. She sorted through the supplies on the table before selecting a small cluster of artificial poinsettias.
Watching her work, Alex recalled Jeannie’s words about how Nicole had spearheaded the station’s toy and coat drive every Christmas season since joining the station. She’d also collected the donations to buy gifts for the mission residents. The evidence of her generous spirit was spread all around him now in the conference room turned Wrap Central.
He nodded to the gift she worked on now. “Is this package for your mother?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice quiet as she paused her work. “How did you know?”
“You’re taking even more care with it, adding the flowers and using the finest ribbon on the table.”
She reached for a small glue gun and then attached the artificial poinsettias she’d arranged in the elegant bow. “Her favorite color is green, and I found a gorgeous emerald-colored robe. Mom can’t do much, can’t say much, but she can look pretty.” A tear slipped down her cheek, and Nicole released a sigh when it landed on the floral wrapping. “Wonderful. Now I’ll have to start all over again.”
No hand-wringing, no over-the-top anxiety, just a quiet resignation.
When she reached for the box, presumably to tear off the wrapping, Alex put his hand on her arm to stop her.
She glanced up at him through watery eyes. “This seems to be a habit with you.”
“Nicole.” Planting his hands on her shoulders, he gently turned her toward him. His resistance to this woman was fading as fast as the sun on the horizon, visible outside the conference room window. “Your tears will dry, and the pattern of the wrapping paper will make it impossible to notice, anyway. And—not to be insensitive—but I don’t think your mother will even notice.”
“But I’ll know it’s there.”
He tipped her chin. “I love your devotion to your mother. I love how you put up this brave front to the world, but you’re incredibly tender and soft inside. How you try to fix the world, one problem at a time. How caring you are.” With her so close, and with that look in her eyes, it took every last ounce of resolve in him not to dip his head and kiss her. Wrapping his arms around her, he reveled in the feel of her as Nicole burrowed into his chest. Alex’s heart pumped hard and fast. Surely, she felt it, too.
“This is also getting to be a habit with you. A very nice habit,” Nicole whispered, easing out of his arms. “It’s time to finish wrapping these gifts. Fair warning: if you stick around, I will put you to work.”
“That’s why I’m here. Just tell me what to do. I can help deliver them, if you want.”
The glance she shot him was full of meaning. If he wasn’t mistaken, she was softening toward him more each passing day, allowing him a little more access to her life.
Selfishly, Alex wanted more. If what he felt for Nicole wasn’t the beginnings of love, then he’d probably never understand what love truly was. Since he’d known this woman, his emotions fluctuated on a minute-by-minute basis, yet he’d never felt so energized, so incredibly alive, as when he was around her.
“Here, then,” she said with the hint of a smile, handing him a roll of wrapping paper and a department store gift box. “Time to make yourself useful.”
“I wholeheartedly accept that challenge, Miss Reardon.” He’d make himself so useful that Nicole wouldn’t know how she’d ever gotten along without him.
14
Saturday Morning
Another twenty minutes, and they should be in Starlight. Nicole couldn’t believe how excited that prospect made her.
“I’ll tell you something that might surprise you.” Alex turned down the radio in the SUV, muting Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas.” Good thing. She’d been singing the song softly under her breath, but the lyrics made her sad.
“What’s that?” After spying the latest mile marker, Nicole checked the GPS.
“In some ways, I envy the relationship you share with Colin.”
“Define relationship.” She angled in the passenger seat to face him.
“No fair boomeranging my question.”
Nicole laughed. “I don’t think boomeranging is a word.”
He darted a glance her way. “Maybe, but I’m sure its meaning doesn’t escape you.”
She nodded but remained quiet for a moment as she pondered what to say without revealing too much of Colin’s personal history. “Colin and I bonded from the first moment we met. We understand each other in a number of ways. Suffice it to say Colin’s family situation is somewhat similar to mine. Except it was his mom who left.” Maybe she shouldn’t have shared that much, but she trusted Alex to keep the confidence.
“Colin loves saying off-color things to make me blush. He teases me about my ‘prim and proper ways.’ My commitment to living by godly principles confounds him, but he’s a deep thinker. Beneath the sarcasm and the teasing, Colin is a great listener and an observer of human nature. His intellectual capacity astounds me. Even though I accuse him sometimes of being cold-hearted, in actuality, he can be surprisingly compassionate. One of our technicians suffered a heart attack on the set five months ago. Colin reached him first, dropped to the floor, and performed emergency CPR. I had no idea he’d even been trained in CPR. He stayed at the hospital with Larry until his wife arrived.
“Then there’s the time he spotted a mangy mutt wandering along the side of the road. He slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the car, scooped the dog in his arms, and took him to the local rescue shelter. Paid them handsomely to find the dog a good home with kids.”
Her smile faded. “Colin doesn’t hold hope for anything beyond life as he knows it. He believes in the philosophy of the here and now but nothing beyond what he can see, feel, or hear. My friend lives his life with a fierce intensity. He understands this life can all be gone in a heartbeat, but he holds to the belief that his good deeds and pleasing personality will earn him a spot in eternity.” She released a sigh. “I’ve been encouraged lately, though. I’ve seen noticeable changes in him, and it’s almost as though I can see the Lord at work in his life. That thrills my heart. After my mom, Colin’s at the top of my prayer list.”
“Keep praying for him, and I will, too,” Alex said. “I’ll pray for your mom, as well. Do you remember that comment I made at Zombie Burger about the deficiencies in my life?”
Nicole nodded with a small smile. “Yes. It’s rather hard to forget. And you never answered the question.”
“Speaking from a spiritual standpoint, it’s about not keeping up my end of the bargain in my Christian walk. I’ve done my share of good works, but unfortunately, it’s not because I’ve been living for the Lord. The way I see it, the heart’s motivation makes all th
e difference. I live by a standard of morals and uphold godly principles, but I’ll admit guilt prompts a lot of it. I’m not proud of that fact. Trust me. It’s more like I’ve lived according to my own terms and fit Him in whenever I remember I should attend a church service or say a prayer. I could blame it on workaholic tendencies and traveling a lot, but those are lame excuses. The blame rests solely in here.” Alex tapped his curled fist over his heart.
“Thanks for your honesty,” she said, touched by his candor. “In some ways, I can say the same thing. Especially in the last four years, I’ve been focused on my career to the exclusion of other things. I attend church, I pray, but I’m certainly no poster girl for Christianity. But it’s not guilt that prompts my work at the mission.” She glanced at the highway stretched out before them. “I think it’s more a desire to share God’s blessings, whether it’s my time, my efforts, my money or whatever I can give. He’s given me so much in my life, and I need to share it.”
Running a hand through his hair, Alex slanted her that slightly lopsided grin that had quickly wound its way into her affections. Her heart.
“I don’t want my faith to be an afterthought, Nicole. I want it to be so ingrained within me, it flows. I want it to be so natural that I don’t even have to make a conscious effort. It’s a fine line we walk, isn’t it? One foot in the corporate world while still wanting to do things God’s way. To my detriment, I don’t always succeed. In fact, I fail a lot. Miserably so.”
“Me, too,” she said. “I think the main thing is that we can freely acknowledge our shortcomings. On the other hand, it sounds like we’re both trying to reflect the love of Christ in our lives. The whole ‘bloom where you’re planted’ idea.”
His gorgeous smile emerged. “It’s nice to know I’m not alone.”
“You’re definitely not alone. We try, and God sees that. The greatest comfort for me is in knowing He’s always there to pick me up when I fall.” She shot him a grin. “And sometimes He sends a network executive to catch me.” Gazing out the window, she spied the Barney’s Diner billboard. Nicole’s heart jumped. For years, it’d been a landmark and one she loved because it meant she wasn’t far from Starlight. Pointing to it, she laughed. “Look, Alex! The sign!”
Alex leaned slightly forward, his shoulders hunched. “Barney’s Diner?”
“Only the best diner ever.” She giggled. “With the absolute worst coffee in the world made by a woman whose last name happens to be Picasso.”
Caroline Picasso had called her no less than three times in the last two days, telling her how excited she was that Nicole was coming back home again to Starlight. Henrietta Watkins had also called, and they’d enjoyed a nice long chat.
Alex smiled as he sat back in his seat. “You look like a little girl on Christmas morning.”
Nostalgia swelled her heart. “I guess that’s how Starlight makes me feel. In some ways, it is like I’m coming home again.”
Maybe I never really left.
15
Dante and Amanda Moretti’s Home
Unfolding before Alex’s eyes—from behind the lens of the lightweight camera propped on his shoulder—was proof in action of why the network sent him to Iowa. Nicole was a natural with Dante, charming him like she did most everyone. As evidenced by Dante’s body language, the intensely private, but hugely popular, international soccer star relaxed a little more with each question she posed.
She’d done her homework. Equally impressive was how she could read her subject, taking cues from Dante, giving the impression of allowing him to lead while always remaining in complete control. The best interviewers possessed the ability to simultaneously play the role of psychologist, therapist, and cheerleader. Not an easy task, but her experience and well-honed instincts as a reporter served Nicole well.
“Dante, I understand Starlight Soccer, the training center you’re planning to build, will primarily benefit Ana’s Foundation. Can you tell our viewers more about the foundation?”
Alex sucked in his breath. He’d hoped she might not broach the subject of Dante’s sister on air. He should have known better. Nicole wouldn’t be conducting this interview if she avoided the hard-hitting questions. Because of the close association of the foundation with the planned soccer facility, discussing Ana was inevitable. From what Alex knew, Dante had been extremely close to Ana. To lose a kid sister and his parents in a horrific plane crash was beyond his comprehension. Truly, only the grace of God could get someone through such a tragedy.
Just like He got you through the pain of losing Chase. Staggered by that thought, Alex concentrated on keeping his hand steady. He owed it to Nicole, Dante, the local station—all the way up the food chain to the network—to not blow it by getting emotional. Sure, they could always do a retake, but considering he’d practically demanded of Mike and Artie that he be the one behind the camera for this assignment, it wasn’t advisable or in his best interest. He’d learned a few things by visiting different television crews around the country, at least enough to give him a good working knowledge of the techniques and basic procedures. The acoustics in this room were near perfect, surprising for its size. Ditto the lighting.
The living room, like the rest of the house—based on what he’d seen—was grandiose without being overdone. Decorated for the holidays, bright red bows, wreaths, and festive Christmas touches were everywhere. Hardwood floors peeked out from beneath Persian rugs and quality artwork lined the walls. The popping from crackling logs in the large stone fireplace was warm and welcoming.
Alex’s gaze centered on the large oil painting above the fireplace, a portrait he recognized must be a teenage Dante with his parents and younger sister. Other family and wedding photos sat on the coffee table and on the top of the grand piano in one corner.
Comfortable and spacious, the home was fitting for a man of Dante’s position. Live Christmas trees adorned nearly every room, including the one behind the sofa that had to be at least nine feet tall and served as the ideal backdrop for the interview. The scent of fresh pine permeated the air, making Alex thankful he wasn’t allergic. If he had been, he might shake the camera by sneezing.
“Ana loved sports, especially soccer.”
Never mind going for tears. This was really good. The stuff of great interviews. Nicole had managed to tap into the essence and heart of the man. Holding her own wouldn’t be a problem no matter where the network sent her.
She’s ready, Lord.
As he’d told Colin, what Nicole wanted for the future of her career was the most important question in his mind. Thankfully, that part of the equation wasn’t his decision to make.
Amanda observed from a side wall lined with bookshelves. Gesturing to catch her attention, Alex pointed to the sofa. She picked up on his cue and quietly seated herself beside Dante. The statuesque blonde was lovely and fair in contrast to her husband’s darker, Italian good looks. What a stunning couple they made, both physically and in spirit. Genuinely warm and welcoming, both of them had made him and Nicole feel immediately at home from the moment they’d arrived.
Threading his wife’s fingers through his, Dante continued to answer Nicole’s questions. “I developed the foundation from the beginning of my pro soccer career. It’s always been my desire to honor my sister’s life in a lasting, meaningful way, and Ana’s Foundation has grown through the years far beyond what I’d originally envisioned.”
“I understand Ana’s Foundation benefits children, especially those with medical needs,” Nicole said. “Can you give us some examples?”
As Dante named specific examples of two kids helped by the foundation, Alex admired the man’s focus and careful articulation. To his credit, Dante included Amanda in the discussion, and both appeared fully invested in the interview.
Unlike a lot of the professional athletes Alex had met, Dante didn’t suffer from an overblown ego although he had every right. The man could handle a soccer ball like no one’s business. Coming from modest beginnings in West Texas,
he’d been taught from an early age to look to the Lord for direction and guidance. Dante was humble but outspoken in his statements about how he’d seen the Lord clearly work in his life, even in the loss of his family.
Lord, may I be so bold in my Christian testimony.
Nicole talked with the couple for another five minutes about plans for Starlight Soccer and then transitioned into a brief discussion of living outside of Rome, Italy, during the soccer season.
“It’s quite a change of pace coming back to Starlight,” Dante said, “but a very welcome one.” He kissed Amanda’s forehead, and she closed her eyes, leaning into it. “Once you experience Starlight, I guarantee you never want to leave. Speaking of which, I have an announcement to make.”
“By all means,” Nicole prompted as Dante and Amanda exchanged a loving glance.
Alex held his breath. He couldn’t have scripted a better interview. His pulse raced, and he tightened his grip on the camera. Heaven forbid he’d drop it in his building excitement. Nicole was about to get an exclusive. Depending on what it was, the announcement could potentially make the international wires. He moved a little closer, homing in on Dante and Amanda.
“I’m moving up my retirement to the end of the upcoming soccer season instead of waiting another year. We’re expecting our first child, and I want to be a hands-on papa from the start.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Congratulations to you both. That’s terrific news.” Nicole reined in her enthusiasm, but Alex knew she wanted to run and hug them. He wanted to do the same, first to share in their happiness, but especially for giving Nicole the opportunity of a lifetime.
“Perhaps we could have planned the timing a little better,” Amanda said, “but Dante and I know God is in control, as He is with everything in our lives. At this point, it looks as though she’ll arrive during the time we’re in Italy.”
